Notes from 1878 - 1885
Artwork and excerpts from: The Dogs of the British Isles
Edited by John Henry Walsh ("Stonehenge")
Published in 1878
THE BLACK AND TAN TERRIER
(SOMETIMES CALLED THE MANCHESTER TERRIER).
By HUGH DALZIEL ("Corsineon")
THE Black and Tan Terrier has as good a right to be considered the representative of the old English terrier as any breed in existence, and probably a better one; but not yet having been blessed with a club to Protect his interests and quarrel over his pedigree, he has held his position—a very respectable one—in the canine world on his own intrinsic merits. His history begins long before Dandie Dinmonts or Bedlingtons were thought of, and his most distinguishing features had ere that been noted.
Daniel, in his " Rural Sports," describes his " black body and tanned legs (thumb marks, bronzed thighs, and kissing spots had not then been invented), smooth coat, beautiful formation, short body, and sprightly appearance." Bewick copied Daniel, as several other writers have done; and since their time, through all the vicissitudes of dog life, and apparently without any special care having been taken of him, he remains essentially true to his prototype, with no doubt a finer and more polished jacket, befitting these days of dog parades.
As he cannot speak for himself, I must say for him he has a strong cause of complaint against the Kennel Club; for in the first volume of their stud book, which chronicles the principal shows for fourteen years, he was simply and properly described as the black and tan terrier, " English " of course being understood; but since 1874 they have added to his title, " or Manchester terrier." The reason for this change I do not know, as the records of their own stud book do not disclose many names of eminent Manchester breeders or exhibitors besides Mr. Samuel Handley, who bred and exhibited some of the best that have been shown, and who is still generally recognised as one of the best judges of them; and, however great an honour it may be to be " Manchester," it is a greater honour to be English, and, so far as I can see, the change in name was useless and uncalled for, and derogatory to the breed. In addition to Mr. Handley, there were years ago the following celebrated Lancashire breeders: Mr. James Barrow, Mr. Joseph Kay, and Mr. William Pearson, all now dead; but the crack dogs now met with at our shows have generally been bred by unknown people, and brought out by astute judges and spirited exhibitors. In the early days of shows Birmingham took the lead in this breed, and Mr. G. Fitter, of that town, who had a good strain, held the first position for several years with his exceptionally good dog Dandy, which served to illustrate the breed in the previous editions of " Dogs of the British Islands." Of late years the most successful exhibitors have been Mr. George Wilson, Huddersfield; the late Mr. Martin, Manchester; and, more so than either, Mr. Henry Lacy, of Hebden Bridge.
This breed is not such a general favourite with the public as it deserves to be, for it has many excellent qualities to recommend it to those who like a nice pet that does not need nursing, an affectionate, lively, and tractable companion, not given to quarrelling, very active and graceful in his actions, and with pluck enough and a keen zest for hunting and destroying such vermin as rats that infest houses and outbuildings ; for with larger vermin, such as the fox, badger, &c. (with exceptional cases), he has not the hardness to cope or stand their bites, nor has he the strength even of other terriers of his own weight, as he is formed more for nimbleness than work requiring power. His most ardent admirers cannot claim for him the courage and obduracy of attack and defence that characterise less pure terriers. As a house dog he is unexcelled, always on the alert, and quick to give alarm.
I am writing of the dog from 10lb. up to 16lb., not the small lap dogs of the same colour and markings, which are generally pampered and peevish, and ornamental rather than useful—which, when they do give tongue at the entrance of a visitor, never know when they have yelped enough, and have to be coaxed into silence. These latter are of two sorts : one with a short face, round skull, and full eye (inclined to weep), called in vulgar parlance "apple-headed 'uns," showing the cross at some time or other with the King Charles spaniel; the other type is the thin, shivering dog, that must be kept clothed, and sleep in a warmly-lined basket, his timid shrinking manner, spindly legs, lean sides, and tucked-up flanks showing the Italian greyhound cross. The weight of these two clearly distinct varieties averages from about 3lb. to 6lb.
The black and tan terrier proper is the most elegantly shaped and graceful in outline of all the terrier tribe; and, improved as he has been since dog shows came in vogue, he more than ever deserves the description Daniel gave him, being of beautiful formation and sprightly appearance. Taking his points seriatim they are as follows:
Edited by John Henry Walsh ("Stonehenge")
Published in 1878
THE BLACK AND TAN TERRIER
(SOMETIMES CALLED THE MANCHESTER TERRIER).
By HUGH DALZIEL ("Corsineon")
THE Black and Tan Terrier has as good a right to be considered the representative of the old English terrier as any breed in existence, and probably a better one; but not yet having been blessed with a club to Protect his interests and quarrel over his pedigree, he has held his position—a very respectable one—in the canine world on his own intrinsic merits. His history begins long before Dandie Dinmonts or Bedlingtons were thought of, and his most distinguishing features had ere that been noted.
Daniel, in his " Rural Sports," describes his " black body and tanned legs (thumb marks, bronzed thighs, and kissing spots had not then been invented), smooth coat, beautiful formation, short body, and sprightly appearance." Bewick copied Daniel, as several other writers have done; and since their time, through all the vicissitudes of dog life, and apparently without any special care having been taken of him, he remains essentially true to his prototype, with no doubt a finer and more polished jacket, befitting these days of dog parades.
As he cannot speak for himself, I must say for him he has a strong cause of complaint against the Kennel Club; for in the first volume of their stud book, which chronicles the principal shows for fourteen years, he was simply and properly described as the black and tan terrier, " English " of course being understood; but since 1874 they have added to his title, " or Manchester terrier." The reason for this change I do not know, as the records of their own stud book do not disclose many names of eminent Manchester breeders or exhibitors besides Mr. Samuel Handley, who bred and exhibited some of the best that have been shown, and who is still generally recognised as one of the best judges of them; and, however great an honour it may be to be " Manchester," it is a greater honour to be English, and, so far as I can see, the change in name was useless and uncalled for, and derogatory to the breed. In addition to Mr. Handley, there were years ago the following celebrated Lancashire breeders: Mr. James Barrow, Mr. Joseph Kay, and Mr. William Pearson, all now dead; but the crack dogs now met with at our shows have generally been bred by unknown people, and brought out by astute judges and spirited exhibitors. In the early days of shows Birmingham took the lead in this breed, and Mr. G. Fitter, of that town, who had a good strain, held the first position for several years with his exceptionally good dog Dandy, which served to illustrate the breed in the previous editions of " Dogs of the British Islands." Of late years the most successful exhibitors have been Mr. George Wilson, Huddersfield; the late Mr. Martin, Manchester; and, more so than either, Mr. Henry Lacy, of Hebden Bridge.
This breed is not such a general favourite with the public as it deserves to be, for it has many excellent qualities to recommend it to those who like a nice pet that does not need nursing, an affectionate, lively, and tractable companion, not given to quarrelling, very active and graceful in his actions, and with pluck enough and a keen zest for hunting and destroying such vermin as rats that infest houses and outbuildings ; for with larger vermin, such as the fox, badger, &c. (with exceptional cases), he has not the hardness to cope or stand their bites, nor has he the strength even of other terriers of his own weight, as he is formed more for nimbleness than work requiring power. His most ardent admirers cannot claim for him the courage and obduracy of attack and defence that characterise less pure terriers. As a house dog he is unexcelled, always on the alert, and quick to give alarm.
I am writing of the dog from 10lb. up to 16lb., not the small lap dogs of the same colour and markings, which are generally pampered and peevish, and ornamental rather than useful—which, when they do give tongue at the entrance of a visitor, never know when they have yelped enough, and have to be coaxed into silence. These latter are of two sorts : one with a short face, round skull, and full eye (inclined to weep), called in vulgar parlance "apple-headed 'uns," showing the cross at some time or other with the King Charles spaniel; the other type is the thin, shivering dog, that must be kept clothed, and sleep in a warmly-lined basket, his timid shrinking manner, spindly legs, lean sides, and tucked-up flanks showing the Italian greyhound cross. The weight of these two clearly distinct varieties averages from about 3lb. to 6lb.
The black and tan terrier proper is the most elegantly shaped and graceful in outline of all the terrier tribe; and, improved as he has been since dog shows came in vogue, he more than ever deserves the description Daniel gave him, being of beautiful formation and sprightly appearance. Taking his points seriatim they are as follows:
1. The head (value 5) must be long and narrow, clean cut, tight skinned, with no bulging out at the cheeks ; the skull flat and narrow.
2. The jaws and teeth (value 5).—The muzzle should be long, lean, and tapering, with the teeth level, or the incisors of the upper jaw just closing over the under ones. The nose must be quite black.
3. The eyes (value 5) are black, bright, and small, neither sunk in the skull nor protruding.
4. The ears (value 5) are, for exhibition purposes, invariably cut, and much importance is attached to the result of this operation. It is required that the ears correspond exactly in shape and position with each other. They must be tapered to a point, stand quite erect, or slightly lean towards each other at the tip. This is a practice I strongly deprecate, and never miss an opportunity of protesting against; and I believe there is a general feeling arising against it; and among others who strongly condemn it is the best judge of the breed living, Mr. S. Handley. The supporters of the practice cannot offer a single valid argument in its favour, whilst there are many strong reasons against it. It is sheer nonsense to say the dogs look better cropped. It is not many years since people thought pugs looked better with their ears shorn off by the roots, but nobody thinks so now; and the practice as regards terriers could be effectually stopped by a resolution of the Kennel Club to the effect that no dog with cut ears would be eligible to compete at any of their shows after 1879. There is this practical evil too in cropping, that it places the dog with naturally defective ears on an equality in competition with the dog born with perfect ears if they have been equally skillfully manipulated. The natural ear is of three kinds—the button or drop ear, like the fox terrier; the rose ear, that is half folded back, so that the interior of the ear can be partially seen; and the prick or tulip ear. But I have never seen the last-named kind, except in coarse specimens. The leather of the ear is thin, and generally finest in the best bred dogs.
5. Neck and shoulders (value 10).—The neck must be light and airy, well proportioned to the head, and gradually swelling towards the shoulders; there should be no loose skin or throatiness. The shoulders are not so muscular as in some breeds ; but nicely sloping.
6. The chest (value 10) must be deep, but not wide ; the latter would indicate a bull cross, which would also be shown in the head and other points. The body is short, the ribs rather deep than round, the back ones pretty well let down.
7. The loins (value 10) are strong and muscular, with this formation, there is an absence of the cut-up flank which the Whippet and Italian greyhound crosses give.
8. Legs and feet (value 10).—The former are straight, light of bone, clean as a racehorse, and the feet round, with the toes well arched, and the claws jet black.
9. The coat (value 5) must be short and close ; it should look fine and glossy, but not soft in texture.
10. The colour and markings (value 25) are in this breed—which is now essentially a fancy dog—important. No other colour than black and tan or red is permissible ; the least speck of white is fatal to winning chances, and it is in the richness, contrast, and correct distribution of these that excellence consists. The black should be intense and jet-like; the tan, a rich warm mahogany ; the two colours, in all points where they meet, being abruptly separated—not running into each other. On the head the tan runs along each jaw, on the lower running down almost to the throat; a bright spot on the cheek, and another above the eye, each clearly surrounded with black, and well defined; the inside of the ears slightly tanned, spots of tan on each side of the breast, the forelegs tanned up to the knee; feet tanned, but the knuckles have a clear black line, called the " pencil mark," up their ridge; and in the centre of the tan, midway between the foot and the knee, there must be a black spot called the " thumb mark," and the denser the black, and the clearer in its outline, the more it is valued. The insides of the hind legs are tanned, and also the under side of tail; but tan on the thighs and outside, where it often appears in a straggling way, producing the appearance called " bronzed," is very objectionable. The vent has also a tan spot, but it should be no larger than can be well covered by the tail when pressed down on it.
11. The tail (value 5) must be long, straight, thin, and tapering to a point. Its carriage should be low, and any curl over the back is a fatal defect.
12. The symmetry (value 5) of this dog is of great importance, as this point is developed to as great an extent as in any other breed, not even excepting the greyhound.
2. The jaws and teeth (value 5).—The muzzle should be long, lean, and tapering, with the teeth level, or the incisors of the upper jaw just closing over the under ones. The nose must be quite black.
3. The eyes (value 5) are black, bright, and small, neither sunk in the skull nor protruding.
4. The ears (value 5) are, for exhibition purposes, invariably cut, and much importance is attached to the result of this operation. It is required that the ears correspond exactly in shape and position with each other. They must be tapered to a point, stand quite erect, or slightly lean towards each other at the tip. This is a practice I strongly deprecate, and never miss an opportunity of protesting against; and I believe there is a general feeling arising against it; and among others who strongly condemn it is the best judge of the breed living, Mr. S. Handley. The supporters of the practice cannot offer a single valid argument in its favour, whilst there are many strong reasons against it. It is sheer nonsense to say the dogs look better cropped. It is not many years since people thought pugs looked better with their ears shorn off by the roots, but nobody thinks so now; and the practice as regards terriers could be effectually stopped by a resolution of the Kennel Club to the effect that no dog with cut ears would be eligible to compete at any of their shows after 1879. There is this practical evil too in cropping, that it places the dog with naturally defective ears on an equality in competition with the dog born with perfect ears if they have been equally skillfully manipulated. The natural ear is of three kinds—the button or drop ear, like the fox terrier; the rose ear, that is half folded back, so that the interior of the ear can be partially seen; and the prick or tulip ear. But I have never seen the last-named kind, except in coarse specimens. The leather of the ear is thin, and generally finest in the best bred dogs.
5. Neck and shoulders (value 10).—The neck must be light and airy, well proportioned to the head, and gradually swelling towards the shoulders; there should be no loose skin or throatiness. The shoulders are not so muscular as in some breeds ; but nicely sloping.
6. The chest (value 10) must be deep, but not wide ; the latter would indicate a bull cross, which would also be shown in the head and other points. The body is short, the ribs rather deep than round, the back ones pretty well let down.
7. The loins (value 10) are strong and muscular, with this formation, there is an absence of the cut-up flank which the Whippet and Italian greyhound crosses give.
8. Legs and feet (value 10).—The former are straight, light of bone, clean as a racehorse, and the feet round, with the toes well arched, and the claws jet black.
9. The coat (value 5) must be short and close ; it should look fine and glossy, but not soft in texture.
10. The colour and markings (value 25) are in this breed—which is now essentially a fancy dog—important. No other colour than black and tan or red is permissible ; the least speck of white is fatal to winning chances, and it is in the richness, contrast, and correct distribution of these that excellence consists. The black should be intense and jet-like; the tan, a rich warm mahogany ; the two colours, in all points where they meet, being abruptly separated—not running into each other. On the head the tan runs along each jaw, on the lower running down almost to the throat; a bright spot on the cheek, and another above the eye, each clearly surrounded with black, and well defined; the inside of the ears slightly tanned, spots of tan on each side of the breast, the forelegs tanned up to the knee; feet tanned, but the knuckles have a clear black line, called the " pencil mark," up their ridge; and in the centre of the tan, midway between the foot and the knee, there must be a black spot called the " thumb mark," and the denser the black, and the clearer in its outline, the more it is valued. The insides of the hind legs are tanned, and also the under side of tail; but tan on the thighs and outside, where it often appears in a straggling way, producing the appearance called " bronzed," is very objectionable. The vent has also a tan spot, but it should be no larger than can be well covered by the tail when pressed down on it.
11. The tail (value 5) must be long, straight, thin, and tapering to a point. Its carriage should be low, and any curl over the back is a fatal defect.
12. The symmetry (value 5) of this dog is of great importance, as this point is developed to as great an extent as in any other breed, not even excepting the greyhound.
Belcher, the subject of the illustration, is a three-year-old dog, bred and up to the present time exhibited by Mr. Henry Lacy, Lacy House, Hebden Bridge. He is considered the most perfect specimen of the breed extant. First exhibited at Hull in October, 1875, he took first and special prizes, and has ever since kept at the head of his class, having been first at Birmingham, Alexandra Palace, Crystal Palace, Brighton, Darlington, Islington, Manchester, and a number of smaller shows. Belcher is remarkably well bred, being by Mr. Lacy's General out of his Saff II., both sire and dam going back to Handley's celebrated Saff by Gas out of Limie, and is therefore essentially a " Manchester" terrier. Mr. Lacy's dogs having been recently distributed, we understand Belcher is now the property of Mr. Tom B. Swinburne, Darlington.
Excerpt from: British Dogs-Their Varieties, History, Characteristics, Breeding Management and Exhibition
By Hugh Dalziel
Published in 1879
There has been an attempt made by recent writers to circumscribe the national character of this dog [the Colley] by calling him the Highland colley, as though he were peculiar to the north of Scotland. There appears to me to be even less justification for this than for calling the old English black and tan terrier the Manchester terrier, for at least Manchester has done something special in making the modern black and tan terrier what he is... (page 200)
Group III
Vermin Destroyer: The Terriers
Some of the varieties included in this group differ widely from each other in physical characteristics. On the one hand we have the light and nimble black and tan, with a long head and gradually tapering jaw, and on the other the low-slung Dandie Dinmont, with a comparatively large and wide head of truncated muzzle. All of them, however, resemble each other in the work they are mostly kept to, and which, as it is their legitimate business, they take to with most readiness and zest.
All of them have been, doubtless, much modified from the native terrier of Britain of some centuries ago, and many of them are admittedly manufactured by the admixture of other kinds with terrier base, yet as every class of them possesses marked qualities in common and are, above all things, vermin destroyers, and in a variety of ways used for that purpose, they thus form a natural group on the lines we laid down for classifying dogs upon which we treat these pages. (page 289)
By Hugh Dalziel
Published in 1879
There has been an attempt made by recent writers to circumscribe the national character of this dog [the Colley] by calling him the Highland colley, as though he were peculiar to the north of Scotland. There appears to me to be even less justification for this than for calling the old English black and tan terrier the Manchester terrier, for at least Manchester has done something special in making the modern black and tan terrier what he is... (page 200)
Group III
Vermin Destroyer: The Terriers
Some of the varieties included in this group differ widely from each other in physical characteristics. On the one hand we have the light and nimble black and tan, with a long head and gradually tapering jaw, and on the other the low-slung Dandie Dinmont, with a comparatively large and wide head of truncated muzzle. All of them, however, resemble each other in the work they are mostly kept to, and which, as it is their legitimate business, they take to with most readiness and zest.
All of them have been, doubtless, much modified from the native terrier of Britain of some centuries ago, and many of them are admittedly manufactured by the admixture of other kinds with terrier base, yet as every class of them possesses marked qualities in common and are, above all things, vermin destroyers, and in a variety of ways used for that purpose, they thus form a natural group on the lines we laid down for classifying dogs upon which we treat these pages. (page 289)
Chapter XXI -- The Black and Tan Terrier
As far back as the history of dogs we have mention of the terrier, the dog that went to earth after fox and badgers, and by "conceaved fear drove them out of their hollow harbours."
I have written of them in the past tense, for in the multitudinous varieties now called terriers there are many altogether unfitted for the work which gave the breed the generic name.
Justice compels me to say the modern black and tan, after the refining processes of the Manchester and Birmingham showmen, is one of those that would make a poor figure at underground work. The legs and feet are too slender and elegant for digging, and their satin-like coat is not the sort of covering in which to face wet grass and dank woods.
Whilst on the subject of the coats of Terriers, I must notice a rather curious and, I think, erroneous supposition of Youatt's should be noticed on the subject. He says : "the rough terrier possibly obtained his shaggy coat from the cur, and the smooth terrier may be derived from the hound." The cur he elsewhere describes as a cross between the sheepdog and the terrier, but there are rough-coated as well as smooth-coated hounds, and the terrier was placed by Caius among the hounds-between the Harrier and the Bloodhound, in fact-and he stated him to be the "smallest of the kind called Sagax." Now, if there always have been Hounds, both smooth and rough, it is surely quite as likely that there have always been Smooth and Rough Terriers.
Caius says nothing about the length of coat or the colour of his Terriers. Daniels, in his "Rural Sports," makes special mention of the elegant and sprightly smooth-coated Terrier, black in body, and tanned on the legs ; and in Foxhound kennels of the early part of the last century Terriers of all colours are kept--red ones, brindled, brown pied, white pied, pure white and black with tanned faces, flank feet and legs, and all of these were kept for work and not for show--working requiring the strength, ardour, fortitude and indomitable pluck of a genuine Terrier, for a working Terrier worthy of the name should be as hard as nails, active as a cat and lively as a cricket.
The old style of black-and-tan terrier was stronger than, but not so elegantly built as, his modern representative, and still we may occasionally see the stouter-limbed, broader-chested, thicker-headed and coarser-coated that illustrates the original form from which our show dog has sprung. Dog shows have, no-doubt, had much to do with transforming the rather "cloddy" rough and tumble black-and-tan into the graceful and refined animal of our show benches; and noted among breeders who have had a large hand in producing this "dog of the day" stands the name of the late Mr. Samuel Handley, who in the early years of dog shows successfully exhibited and became general recognised as the greatest authority and most expert judge of this breed especially, although also many other varieties in which he took an interest.
I do not know that any cross has been resorted to in bringing this terrier up to the mark, but the great length of the head, the tendency to show a tucked-up flank, and a something in the general contour, gives one the impression that Greyhound blood is in the breed ; and if so it was probably obtained through the Whippet. The skull is certainly much narrower in proportion to length and to size of the dog thn in the greyhound, and rumour says this end is obtained by continued compression with wet bandages during puppyhood.
With improved elegance of form was introduced gradually a finer coat, and richer and more decided contrast in colours ; and when Nature is not so kind as desired in this respect, some of the votaries of the breed assist her. I believe, however, that staining, dyeing and painting is not much resorted to now-a-days; careful breeding has done so much towards perfecting the dog that there is less need to introduce low tricks, which cannot be too severely censured.
Although the modern Black-and-Tan Terrier is unfitted for the hard rough work at which his progenitor was so adept, it must not be inferred from anything that I have said that he is a useless dog ; on the contrary he is game enough and death to vermin as all the terrier tribe are, but he is simply not fitted to stand rough weather. He is also a remarkably active and cheerful companion, and makes a first-rate house-dog, being generally quite free from any objectionable smell, and does not harbour fleas, or carry dirt on wet days into the house, as rough-coated dogs do.
The black-and-tan is sometimes called the Manchester terrier, but there is no sound reason for it; this I pointed out in an article on the breed, which I contributed to "Dogs of the British Islands," and made it a cause of complaint against the Kennel Club that in their stud books they give countenance to this misnomer and I see in the volume of the Stud Book since issued the entires of these dogs are not called Manchester, but simply black and tan terriers, and this is as it should be, for far more good ones have been bred outside of Manchester than in it and the dog is really an old English terrier.
There is considerable difficulty in breeding dogs with all of the desirable points, and when a specimen is found nearing perfection in shape, colour and markings, very long prices are given for it.
Another point (of course, artificial, yet great stress is laid on it) is the cutting of the ears--unless this is what is euphemistically and most erroneously called artistically done, it mars the chance of an otherwise first rate winning dog.
This is a custom I most strongly deprecate and I hope to see it done away with as it has been in the case of pugs, Dalmatians, and others. Whether it improves the dog's appearance is a matter of opinion ; I think it does not, and I do not think without better reasons than I have ever heard given we are justified, for a mere whim or fancy, in exposing to all weathers one of the most delicate organs of the body, which nature has specially protected, thus leaving the poor beast easily liable to canker, deafness, and other evils. The following are the points required in a first rate specimen:
The head must be long and narrow, clean cut, tight skinned, with no bulging out at the cheeks ; the skull flat and narrow.
The muzzle should be long, lean, and tapering, with the teeth level, or the incisors of the upper jaw just closing over the under ones. The nose must be quite black.
The eyes are black, bright and small, neither sunk in the skull nor protruding.
The ears are, for exhibition purposes, invariably cut, and much importance is is attached to the result of this operation. It is required that the ears correspond exactly in shape and position with each other. They must be tapered to a point, stand quite erect, or slightly lean towards each other at the tip. This is a practice I strongly deprecate, and never miss an opportunity of protesting against ; and I believe there is a general feeling arising against it. Among others who strongly condemn it I may name the late Mr. S Handley. The supporters of the practice cannot offer a single valid argument in its favour, whilst there are many strong reasons against it. It is sheer nonsense to say the dogs look better cropped. It is not many years since people thought pugs looked better with their ears shorn off by the roots but nobody thinks so now l and the practice as regard terriers could be effectually stopped by a resolution of the Kennel Club to the effect that no dog with cut ears would be eligible to compete at any of their shows after 1879. There is this practical evil too in cropping, that it places the dog with naturally defective ears on an equality in competition with the dog born with perfect ears if they have been skillfully manipulated. The natural ear is of three kinds--the button or drop ear, like the fox terrier; the rose ear, that is half folded back, so that the interior of the ear can be partially seen; and the prick or tulip ear. But I have never seen the last named kind except in coarse specimens. The leather of the ear is thin, and generally finest in best bred dogs.
The neck must be light and airy, well proportioned to the head, and gradually swelling towards to shoulders; there should be no loose skin or throatiness. The shoulders are not so muscular as in some breeds, but nicely sloping.
The chest must be deep, but not wide; the latter would indicate a bull cross, which would also be shown in the head and other points. The body is short, the ribs rather deep than round, the back ones pretty well let down.
The loins are strong and muscular; with this formation there is an absence of the cut up flank which the whippet and Italian greyhound crosses give.
The legs are straight, light of bone, clean as a racehorse's and the feet long, with the toes well arched, and the claws jet black.
The coat must be short and close, it should look fine and glossy but not soft in texture.
The colour and markings are in this breed--which is now essentially a fancy dog--important. No other colour than black and tan or red is permissible, the least speck of white is fatal to winning chances, and it is in the richness, contrast, and correct distribution of these that excellence consists. The black should be intense and jet-like, the tan a rich, arm mahogany the two colours in all points where they meet being abruptly separated--not running into each other. On the head the tan runs along each jaw, on the lower jaw running down almost to the throat; a bright spot on the cheek, and another above the eye, each clearly surrounded with black and well-defined; the inside of the ears slightly tanned, spots of tan on each side of the breast, the forelegs tanned up to the knee; feet tanned, but the knuckles with a clear black line called the "pencil mark" up their ridge; and in the centre of the tan, midway between the foot and the knee there must be a black spot called the "thumb mark" and the denser the black and the clearer the outline the more it is valued. The inside of the hind legs are tanned and also the underside of the tail ; but tan on th thighs and outside, where it often appears in a straggling way, producing the appearance called "bronzed" is most objectionable. The vent has also a tanned spot, but it should be no larger than can be well covered by the tail when pressed down on it.
The tail must be long, straight, thin and tapering to a point. Its carriage should be low, and any curl over the back is a great defect.
The symmetry of this dog is of great importance as this point is developed to as great an extent as in any other breed, not even excepting the greyhound.
I have written of them in the past tense, for in the multitudinous varieties now called terriers there are many altogether unfitted for the work which gave the breed the generic name.
Justice compels me to say the modern black and tan, after the refining processes of the Manchester and Birmingham showmen, is one of those that would make a poor figure at underground work. The legs and feet are too slender and elegant for digging, and their satin-like coat is not the sort of covering in which to face wet grass and dank woods.
Whilst on the subject of the coats of Terriers, I must notice a rather curious and, I think, erroneous supposition of Youatt's should be noticed on the subject. He says : "the rough terrier possibly obtained his shaggy coat from the cur, and the smooth terrier may be derived from the hound." The cur he elsewhere describes as a cross between the sheepdog and the terrier, but there are rough-coated as well as smooth-coated hounds, and the terrier was placed by Caius among the hounds-between the Harrier and the Bloodhound, in fact-and he stated him to be the "smallest of the kind called Sagax." Now, if there always have been Hounds, both smooth and rough, it is surely quite as likely that there have always been Smooth and Rough Terriers.
Caius says nothing about the length of coat or the colour of his Terriers. Daniels, in his "Rural Sports," makes special mention of the elegant and sprightly smooth-coated Terrier, black in body, and tanned on the legs ; and in Foxhound kennels of the early part of the last century Terriers of all colours are kept--red ones, brindled, brown pied, white pied, pure white and black with tanned faces, flank feet and legs, and all of these were kept for work and not for show--working requiring the strength, ardour, fortitude and indomitable pluck of a genuine Terrier, for a working Terrier worthy of the name should be as hard as nails, active as a cat and lively as a cricket.
The old style of black-and-tan terrier was stronger than, but not so elegantly built as, his modern representative, and still we may occasionally see the stouter-limbed, broader-chested, thicker-headed and coarser-coated that illustrates the original form from which our show dog has sprung. Dog shows have, no-doubt, had much to do with transforming the rather "cloddy" rough and tumble black-and-tan into the graceful and refined animal of our show benches; and noted among breeders who have had a large hand in producing this "dog of the day" stands the name of the late Mr. Samuel Handley, who in the early years of dog shows successfully exhibited and became general recognised as the greatest authority and most expert judge of this breed especially, although also many other varieties in which he took an interest.
I do not know that any cross has been resorted to in bringing this terrier up to the mark, but the great length of the head, the tendency to show a tucked-up flank, and a something in the general contour, gives one the impression that Greyhound blood is in the breed ; and if so it was probably obtained through the Whippet. The skull is certainly much narrower in proportion to length and to size of the dog thn in the greyhound, and rumour says this end is obtained by continued compression with wet bandages during puppyhood.
With improved elegance of form was introduced gradually a finer coat, and richer and more decided contrast in colours ; and when Nature is not so kind as desired in this respect, some of the votaries of the breed assist her. I believe, however, that staining, dyeing and painting is not much resorted to now-a-days; careful breeding has done so much towards perfecting the dog that there is less need to introduce low tricks, which cannot be too severely censured.
Although the modern Black-and-Tan Terrier is unfitted for the hard rough work at which his progenitor was so adept, it must not be inferred from anything that I have said that he is a useless dog ; on the contrary he is game enough and death to vermin as all the terrier tribe are, but he is simply not fitted to stand rough weather. He is also a remarkably active and cheerful companion, and makes a first-rate house-dog, being generally quite free from any objectionable smell, and does not harbour fleas, or carry dirt on wet days into the house, as rough-coated dogs do.
The black-and-tan is sometimes called the Manchester terrier, but there is no sound reason for it; this I pointed out in an article on the breed, which I contributed to "Dogs of the British Islands," and made it a cause of complaint against the Kennel Club that in their stud books they give countenance to this misnomer and I see in the volume of the Stud Book since issued the entires of these dogs are not called Manchester, but simply black and tan terriers, and this is as it should be, for far more good ones have been bred outside of Manchester than in it and the dog is really an old English terrier.
There is considerable difficulty in breeding dogs with all of the desirable points, and when a specimen is found nearing perfection in shape, colour and markings, very long prices are given for it.
Another point (of course, artificial, yet great stress is laid on it) is the cutting of the ears--unless this is what is euphemistically and most erroneously called artistically done, it mars the chance of an otherwise first rate winning dog.
This is a custom I most strongly deprecate and I hope to see it done away with as it has been in the case of pugs, Dalmatians, and others. Whether it improves the dog's appearance is a matter of opinion ; I think it does not, and I do not think without better reasons than I have ever heard given we are justified, for a mere whim or fancy, in exposing to all weathers one of the most delicate organs of the body, which nature has specially protected, thus leaving the poor beast easily liable to canker, deafness, and other evils. The following are the points required in a first rate specimen:
The head must be long and narrow, clean cut, tight skinned, with no bulging out at the cheeks ; the skull flat and narrow.
The muzzle should be long, lean, and tapering, with the teeth level, or the incisors of the upper jaw just closing over the under ones. The nose must be quite black.
The eyes are black, bright and small, neither sunk in the skull nor protruding.
The ears are, for exhibition purposes, invariably cut, and much importance is is attached to the result of this operation. It is required that the ears correspond exactly in shape and position with each other. They must be tapered to a point, stand quite erect, or slightly lean towards each other at the tip. This is a practice I strongly deprecate, and never miss an opportunity of protesting against ; and I believe there is a general feeling arising against it. Among others who strongly condemn it I may name the late Mr. S Handley. The supporters of the practice cannot offer a single valid argument in its favour, whilst there are many strong reasons against it. It is sheer nonsense to say the dogs look better cropped. It is not many years since people thought pugs looked better with their ears shorn off by the roots but nobody thinks so now l and the practice as regard terriers could be effectually stopped by a resolution of the Kennel Club to the effect that no dog with cut ears would be eligible to compete at any of their shows after 1879. There is this practical evil too in cropping, that it places the dog with naturally defective ears on an equality in competition with the dog born with perfect ears if they have been skillfully manipulated. The natural ear is of three kinds--the button or drop ear, like the fox terrier; the rose ear, that is half folded back, so that the interior of the ear can be partially seen; and the prick or tulip ear. But I have never seen the last named kind except in coarse specimens. The leather of the ear is thin, and generally finest in best bred dogs.
The neck must be light and airy, well proportioned to the head, and gradually swelling towards to shoulders; there should be no loose skin or throatiness. The shoulders are not so muscular as in some breeds, but nicely sloping.
The chest must be deep, but not wide; the latter would indicate a bull cross, which would also be shown in the head and other points. The body is short, the ribs rather deep than round, the back ones pretty well let down.
The loins are strong and muscular; with this formation there is an absence of the cut up flank which the whippet and Italian greyhound crosses give.
The legs are straight, light of bone, clean as a racehorse's and the feet long, with the toes well arched, and the claws jet black.
The coat must be short and close, it should look fine and glossy but not soft in texture.
The colour and markings are in this breed--which is now essentially a fancy dog--important. No other colour than black and tan or red is permissible, the least speck of white is fatal to winning chances, and it is in the richness, contrast, and correct distribution of these that excellence consists. The black should be intense and jet-like, the tan a rich, arm mahogany the two colours in all points where they meet being abruptly separated--not running into each other. On the head the tan runs along each jaw, on the lower jaw running down almost to the throat; a bright spot on the cheek, and another above the eye, each clearly surrounded with black and well-defined; the inside of the ears slightly tanned, spots of tan on each side of the breast, the forelegs tanned up to the knee; feet tanned, but the knuckles with a clear black line called the "pencil mark" up their ridge; and in the centre of the tan, midway between the foot and the knee there must be a black spot called the "thumb mark" and the denser the black and the clearer the outline the more it is valued. The inside of the hind legs are tanned and also the underside of the tail ; but tan on th thighs and outside, where it often appears in a straggling way, producing the appearance called "bronzed" is most objectionable. The vent has also a tanned spot, but it should be no larger than can be well covered by the tail when pressed down on it.
The tail must be long, straight, thin and tapering to a point. Its carriage should be low, and any curl over the back is a great defect.
The symmetry of this dog is of great importance as this point is developed to as great an extent as in any other breed, not even excepting the greyhound.
The subjects of our engravings are Mr. F.W. Parry's Saff, acknowledged by most judges to be the best bitch of the breed living. Saff is perfection in symmetry, possesses all the points of the breed, and is remarkably rich in colour. In the engraving the head is depicted as being held rather high ; in a lower position the neck would have shown to a greater advantage, but on the whole Mr. Moore has most successfully portrayed Saff, who well represents the breed.
Our other engraving represents Mr. Howard Mapplebeck's (now Mr. Vicary's) Wasp, a good specimen and fairly successful in the show ring.
The following will show size and dimension of a few good specimens:
Mr. F.W. Parry's Saff: Age, 2 years, 9 months ; weight 19 1/2 lbs. ; height at shoulder 15 inches; length from nose to set on of tail, 24 inches ; length of tail 9 inches, girth of chest 20 inches, girth of loin 15 1/2 inches, girth of head 11 inches, girth of arm 1 inch above elbow, 6 1/2 inches ; girth of leg 1 inch below elbow, 4 1/2 inches ; length of head from occiput to tip of nose, 7 1/2 inches; girth of muzzle midway between eyes and tip of nose, 6 1/2 inches ; colour and markings, black and tan.
Mr. W.K. Taunton's Swift (KCSB 8631): Age 2 years ; weight 24 lbs. ; height at shoulder 16 inches; length from nose to set on of tail, 27 inches ; length of tail 9 inches, girth of chest 21 inches, girth of loin 16 inches, girth of head 13 inches, girth of arm 1 inch above elbow, 5 inches ; length of head from occiput to tip of nose, 7 1/2 inches; girth of muzzle midway between eyes and tip of nose, 6 1/2 inches
Mr. W.K. Taunton's Black Bess (KCSB 8635): Age 2 years ; weight 16 1/2 lbs. ; height at shoulder 13 inches; length from nose to set on of tail, 25 inches ; length of tail 8 inches, girth of chest 17 1/2 inches, girth of loin 13 inches, girth of head 11 inches, girth of arm 1 inch below elbow, 4 1/2 inches ; length of head from occiput to tip of nose, 7 inches; girth of muzzle midway between eyes and tip of nose, 5 3/4 inches
Mr. W.K. Taunton's Stella, by General (KCSB 2943)--Saff II (KCSB 3024): Age 2 years and 2 months ; weight 18 lbs. ; height at shoulder 14 1/2 inches; length from nose to set on of tail, 26 inches ; length of tail 7 1/2 inches, girth of chest 19 1/2 inches, girth of loin 15 1/2 inches, girth of head 11 1/2 inches, girth of arm 1 inch below elbow, 4 1/2 inches ; length of head from occiput to tip of nose, 7 inches; girth of muzzle midway between eyes and tip of nose, 6 inches.
Our other engraving represents Mr. Howard Mapplebeck's (now Mr. Vicary's) Wasp, a good specimen and fairly successful in the show ring.
The following will show size and dimension of a few good specimens:
Mr. F.W. Parry's Saff: Age, 2 years, 9 months ; weight 19 1/2 lbs. ; height at shoulder 15 inches; length from nose to set on of tail, 24 inches ; length of tail 9 inches, girth of chest 20 inches, girth of loin 15 1/2 inches, girth of head 11 inches, girth of arm 1 inch above elbow, 6 1/2 inches ; girth of leg 1 inch below elbow, 4 1/2 inches ; length of head from occiput to tip of nose, 7 1/2 inches; girth of muzzle midway between eyes and tip of nose, 6 1/2 inches ; colour and markings, black and tan.
Mr. W.K. Taunton's Swift (KCSB 8631): Age 2 years ; weight 24 lbs. ; height at shoulder 16 inches; length from nose to set on of tail, 27 inches ; length of tail 9 inches, girth of chest 21 inches, girth of loin 16 inches, girth of head 13 inches, girth of arm 1 inch above elbow, 5 inches ; length of head from occiput to tip of nose, 7 1/2 inches; girth of muzzle midway between eyes and tip of nose, 6 1/2 inches
Mr. W.K. Taunton's Black Bess (KCSB 8635): Age 2 years ; weight 16 1/2 lbs. ; height at shoulder 13 inches; length from nose to set on of tail, 25 inches ; length of tail 8 inches, girth of chest 17 1/2 inches, girth of loin 13 inches, girth of head 11 inches, girth of arm 1 inch below elbow, 4 1/2 inches ; length of head from occiput to tip of nose, 7 inches; girth of muzzle midway between eyes and tip of nose, 5 3/4 inches
Mr. W.K. Taunton's Stella, by General (KCSB 2943)--Saff II (KCSB 3024): Age 2 years and 2 months ; weight 18 lbs. ; height at shoulder 14 1/2 inches; length from nose to set on of tail, 26 inches ; length of tail 7 1/2 inches, girth of chest 19 1/2 inches, girth of loin 15 1/2 inches, girth of head 11 1/2 inches, girth of arm 1 inch below elbow, 4 1/2 inches ; length of head from occiput to tip of nose, 7 inches; girth of muzzle midway between eyes and tip of nose, 6 inches.
Artwork and excerpts from: The Dogs of the British Isles
Edited by John Henry Walsh ("Stonehenge")
Published in 1882
"Mr. Fitter's Dandy is of the old-fashioned black and tan English breed which keeps its place on the show bench, being commonly, though without good reason, denominated the Manchester Terrier."
Edited by John Henry Walsh ("Stonehenge")
Published in 1882
"Mr. Fitter's Dandy is of the old-fashioned black and tan English breed which keeps its place on the show bench, being commonly, though without good reason, denominated the Manchester Terrier."
Mr. Howard Mapplebeck's Toy Terrier "Belle" contrasted
with his Manchester Terrier "Queen II" in 1875.
with his Manchester Terrier "Queen II" in 1875.
“As already observed in the chapter on black and tan terriers, there are two distinct types of this dog, when of the size limited to the toys, namely, not to exceed 6 lb and, to be successful, limited to 3 lb-3 ½ lb… in consequence of dwarfing, the points are seldom exhibited in anything like the perfection shown by Mr. Lacy’s larger strain, but still, the nearer the approach is made to it the better… Annexed is a portrait of Mr. Mapplebeck’s good toy terrier Belle, winner of first prize at Birmingham… together with Queen II, also a first prize winner at the same show… This little dog is, in fact, the large black and tan terrier reduced in size from 15 or 16 lbs to 3 or 4 lbs., the little one being exactly a copy of the larger kind…”
"Belcher was bred and exhibited by Mr. Henry Lacy, Lacy House, Hobden Bridge. He was considered the most perfect specimen of the breed in his time."
The Manchester terrier and the Toy
Excerpt from: The Dog: In Health and Disease
By: John Walsh ("Stonehenge")
Published in 1887 (4th Edition)
XVII - THE SMOOTH ENGLISH TERRIERS
England has been noted for its terriers as long as we have any reliable record of our native breeds of dog. Until the time of Daniel, who published his celebrated book "Rural Sports" in 1801, no particular colour was attached to the breed, but he describes "black and tan" as its particular attribute, and since his day 95 per cent of the smooth terriers kept in this country were that colour, occasionally one or two red puppies are met with, and even in the best strains more rarely a blue or fawn one will appear. White and parti-colour English terriers other than fox are also not uncommon, but they are not prized, and the classes for "white English terriers" which were common twenty years ago are now abandoned.
By: John Walsh ("Stonehenge")
Published in 1887 (4th Edition)
XVII - THE SMOOTH ENGLISH TERRIERS
England has been noted for its terriers as long as we have any reliable record of our native breeds of dog. Until the time of Daniel, who published his celebrated book "Rural Sports" in 1801, no particular colour was attached to the breed, but he describes "black and tan" as its particular attribute, and since his day 95 per cent of the smooth terriers kept in this country were that colour, occasionally one or two red puppies are met with, and even in the best strains more rarely a blue or fawn one will appear. White and parti-colour English terriers other than fox are also not uncommon, but they are not prized, and the classes for "white English terriers" which were common twenty years ago are now abandoned.
THE BLACK AND TAN OR MANCHESTER TERRIER
In the present day our English terrier, to be en regle must be either black and tan, and is then called the Manchester terrier, or pure white. The latter is much admired by a select few, but the former prevails to a very much greater extent throughout the country, Manchester, however, still being the headquarters of the breed. Since the successive advent into fashion of the Dandie, the Skye and the fox-terrier, and to a lesser extent of the Bedlington and the Halifax terrier, the old English dog has fallen into comparative insignificance ; but this is purely a matter of fashion, for he was, without doubt, in former times full the equal of each and all the above-mentioned varieties, in every point which goes to make up a companionable house-dog as well as dog useful out of doors for rabbit or vermin hunting. Unfortunately, in the early part of this century, in order to increase his elegance, recourse was had to the Italian greyhound, producing cross intermediate between the two in shape but maintaining the delicacy of constitution and the cowardice of the greyhound to such an extent as to make the dog unfit for the purpose to which young men generally put their pets.
This little dog was then generally known as the spider-terrier, but he is now altogether out of fashion, the ladies, who greatly admired him at first, having discarded him in favour of the fox-terrier which is certainly more in accordance with their ulster coats than the poor little trembling animal who formerly shared their caresses with his foreign parent, the pug of the Blenheim spaniel. Whether or not show English terriers of the present time still go back to the Italian, it is admitted that they are not so hardy and courageous as the fox-terrier, the Bedlington or the Dandie, and consequently there may be some reason for the neglect of the breed by the public at large. Still, as a house dog pure and simple he is not to be surpassed, being clean in his habits, free from skin smell (though he is apt to have foul breath if not carefully fed), and easily taught tricks ; but, on the other hand, he is apt to be jealous of rivals, whether canine or human, and is not very particular in his attacks on his foes, whether he dos injury with his teeth or not. His bark also is shrill and loud, and not very readily stopped, occasioning some considerable annoyance to visitors entering the room where he is. It may, therefore, be gathered that in my opinion the Manchester and white English terriers are not such desirable companions as several of the breeds that have supplanted them.
I am not now alluding to the toy black and tan terrier, which will be described in his proper place, though it cannot be disputed that he is only a Manchester terrier reduced in size. The subject of these remarks is a dog of about the same weight as the fox-terrier, ranging usually from 10 to 12 lb up to 18 lbs, or a trifle more. He is now much thicker in build than of yore, when he was of the type of the accompanying sketch of Lady.
In the present day our English terrier, to be en regle must be either black and tan, and is then called the Manchester terrier, or pure white. The latter is much admired by a select few, but the former prevails to a very much greater extent throughout the country, Manchester, however, still being the headquarters of the breed. Since the successive advent into fashion of the Dandie, the Skye and the fox-terrier, and to a lesser extent of the Bedlington and the Halifax terrier, the old English dog has fallen into comparative insignificance ; but this is purely a matter of fashion, for he was, without doubt, in former times full the equal of each and all the above-mentioned varieties, in every point which goes to make up a companionable house-dog as well as dog useful out of doors for rabbit or vermin hunting. Unfortunately, in the early part of this century, in order to increase his elegance, recourse was had to the Italian greyhound, producing cross intermediate between the two in shape but maintaining the delicacy of constitution and the cowardice of the greyhound to such an extent as to make the dog unfit for the purpose to which young men generally put their pets.
This little dog was then generally known as the spider-terrier, but he is now altogether out of fashion, the ladies, who greatly admired him at first, having discarded him in favour of the fox-terrier which is certainly more in accordance with their ulster coats than the poor little trembling animal who formerly shared their caresses with his foreign parent, the pug of the Blenheim spaniel. Whether or not show English terriers of the present time still go back to the Italian, it is admitted that they are not so hardy and courageous as the fox-terrier, the Bedlington or the Dandie, and consequently there may be some reason for the neglect of the breed by the public at large. Still, as a house dog pure and simple he is not to be surpassed, being clean in his habits, free from skin smell (though he is apt to have foul breath if not carefully fed), and easily taught tricks ; but, on the other hand, he is apt to be jealous of rivals, whether canine or human, and is not very particular in his attacks on his foes, whether he dos injury with his teeth or not. His bark also is shrill and loud, and not very readily stopped, occasioning some considerable annoyance to visitors entering the room where he is. It may, therefore, be gathered that in my opinion the Manchester and white English terriers are not such desirable companions as several of the breeds that have supplanted them.
I am not now alluding to the toy black and tan terrier, which will be described in his proper place, though it cannot be disputed that he is only a Manchester terrier reduced in size. The subject of these remarks is a dog of about the same weight as the fox-terrier, ranging usually from 10 to 12 lb up to 18 lbs, or a trifle more. He is now much thicker in build than of yore, when he was of the type of the accompanying sketch of Lady.
(originally printed in 1872 edition, reprinted in 1887 edition)
The points of the black and tan terrier are as follows:
Head: 5
Jaws and teeth: 5
Eyes: 5
Ears: 5
Neck and shoulders: 10
Chest: 10
Loin: 10
Legs: 5
Feet: 5
Coat: 5
Colour: 25
Tail: 5
Symmetry: 5
Total: 100
The head, has a narrow, long and flat skull, with marked brows but no great rise at that point. It gradually tapers from the ears to the nose. The skin covering it is tightly drawn over the bones and shows no tendency to wrinkle.
The jaws are long, tapering gradually from the cheeks, which should not be full and bulging, indicative of a bulldog cross. Teeth level or if anything a trifle overhung. Nose, perfectly black.
The eyes are small, sharp and expressive, the iris being so dark a brown as to look black with a close examination. Though small, they should be set level with the edge of the orbit, and neither below or above its surface.
The ears are almost invariably cropped, and that in a way to cause great pain to the dog, not only at the time but for many weeks afterwards. In order to give a very sharp appearance, the "leather" is cut away almost level with the head, leaving a thin point standing up in a manner quite unnatural to the animal in any of his varieties. To do this requires a very good eye and some practice, but, however well the operation is done, the wound will contract and pucker the slip left if daily attention is not paid to it by removing the scabs and stretching out the puckers ; the sharp point shrinks into an unsightly crumpled lump, and instead of an appearance of being presented of greater sharpness than before, the opposite is accomplished. Hopes have been entertained of late years that this practice of cropping would be abandoned in the case of these terriers as has been done with the pug, but I see no indications of such a happy result ; and undoubtedly a Manchester terrier, however well made and marked would be left out of the prize list if exhibited with his ears entire. The operation is not usually done till the puppy is six or seven months old, as until that time it is almost impossible to get the desired shape, and this makes it all the more painful as by that time the cartilages have become hard and a sharp pair of scissors must be used with considerable force to put through them. The natural ear is thin in well-bred dogs and falls over outwards, but seldom lies quite close to the cheeks, often exhibiting tendency to the rose or tulip form, and the two ears seldom matching exactly. It is a great deal on this account, I think, that the practice of cropping is kept up for very few dogs would show neat ears if left entire ; but when they are neat, they surely ought to be prized accordingly by the judges.
The neck should be light, round, and with a greyhound-like turn from the occiput to the setting on of the shoulders, tapering very slightly downwards. The undersurface must be quite tight and concave, approaching the form of the cock's thropple. The shoulders must be sloping, but they are not required to be muscular as in the fox terrier whose digging powers are regarded as of considerable importance.
The chest is deep with an approach to the keel-shape of the greyhound, which is also resembles in its absence of width. The round, barrel-like form of some strains arises from a bull-cross used to abrogate the evils of that attending on the cross of the Italian greyhound. The back ribs are often short, but good judges penalize this tendency.
The loins should be round and slightly arched, the muscle being developed in good specimens under the spine as well as above it. The flank should not be too much cut up.
The legs should be light of bone, set on quite straight, with elbows and hocks well let down and stifles well bent. The forearms are muscular but not excessively so, and the lower thighs are of the same character.
The feet are compact and round, but hare-like, with the toes split well up and at the same time arched. The claws should be short and jet black. The dew-claws are generally removed.
The coat is fine, short and glossy, but not soft.
The colour (including markings) is regarded as more important than any other point by the breeders and fanciers of this terrier, to such an extent as to justify the allotment of 25 out of the 100 in the scale of points. Of course, in any breed intended to be judged for its suitability to work, such an allotment would be absurd, but in a fancy article there can be no argument held on this principle, and we must be content to accept the dicta of those who have command of the market. These gentlemen hold, first, that the black must be jet without admixture with the tan or a single white hair ; secondly, the tan must be a rich mahogany, defined distinctly by a marked and clear line where it meets the black. But these colours encroach on each other in the following way. The black is shown over the whole of the upper surfaces and sides, except a spot of tan over each eye on the brow, and another on each cheek, in both cases being set in a circle of black ; the tan also runs along the sides of the jaw backwards to the lower parts of the cheeks and ends in the throat. examining the tan, we find it occupying all of the lower parts of the body, the undersides of the ears, a spot on each side of the front of the chest, which it thereby shares with the black. The legs are tanned up to the knees and hocks outside and inside all the way up. The feet are entirely tan with the exception of a black line of each toe called "penciling" while just above the foot and below the knee in front of the pastern a black mark called the "thumb-mark" is exhibited. these markings are regarded as of great importance, and, of course, puppies exhibiting them are carefully selected and bred from, but they are seldom shown until the second or third month. The clearer the black the higher the value accorded to them.
The tail is of a tobacco-pipe order, strong at the root and tapering to a fine point like the sting of a bee. It must be curved down, a curl over the back being especially disliked.
Symmetry in a dog regarded only for his beauty is, of course, valued accordingly.
III--Toy Terriers
... The smooth English terrier not exceeding 6 lbs. in weight is much prized ; and when he can be obtained at 3 1/2 or 4 pounds weight, with perfect symmetry and a good rich black-and-tan colour without a white hair, he is certainly a perfect little dog. The black lines ("pencilling") of the toes and the richness of the tan on the cheeks and legs are points insisted on. Most of the toy terriers now sold are either crossed with the Italian greyhound or the King Charles spaniel. If the former, the shape is preserved, and there is the greatest possible difficulty in distinguishing this cross from the pure English terrier ; indeed I am much inclined to believe that all our modern toy-terriers are thus bred. They have the beautiful long sharp nose, the narrow forehead, and the small sharp eye which characterizes the pure breed ; but they are seldom good at vermin though some I have known to be half Italian have been bold enough to attack a good strong rat as well as most dogs. Many of these half-bred Italians are used for rabbit-coursing, in which there is a limit to weight, but it is chiefly for toy purposes that long prices are obtained for them.
Head: 5
Jaws and teeth: 5
Eyes: 5
Ears: 5
Neck and shoulders: 10
Chest: 10
Loin: 10
Legs: 5
Feet: 5
Coat: 5
Colour: 25
Tail: 5
Symmetry: 5
Total: 100
The head, has a narrow, long and flat skull, with marked brows but no great rise at that point. It gradually tapers from the ears to the nose. The skin covering it is tightly drawn over the bones and shows no tendency to wrinkle.
The jaws are long, tapering gradually from the cheeks, which should not be full and bulging, indicative of a bulldog cross. Teeth level or if anything a trifle overhung. Nose, perfectly black.
The eyes are small, sharp and expressive, the iris being so dark a brown as to look black with a close examination. Though small, they should be set level with the edge of the orbit, and neither below or above its surface.
The ears are almost invariably cropped, and that in a way to cause great pain to the dog, not only at the time but for many weeks afterwards. In order to give a very sharp appearance, the "leather" is cut away almost level with the head, leaving a thin point standing up in a manner quite unnatural to the animal in any of his varieties. To do this requires a very good eye and some practice, but, however well the operation is done, the wound will contract and pucker the slip left if daily attention is not paid to it by removing the scabs and stretching out the puckers ; the sharp point shrinks into an unsightly crumpled lump, and instead of an appearance of being presented of greater sharpness than before, the opposite is accomplished. Hopes have been entertained of late years that this practice of cropping would be abandoned in the case of these terriers as has been done with the pug, but I see no indications of such a happy result ; and undoubtedly a Manchester terrier, however well made and marked would be left out of the prize list if exhibited with his ears entire. The operation is not usually done till the puppy is six or seven months old, as until that time it is almost impossible to get the desired shape, and this makes it all the more painful as by that time the cartilages have become hard and a sharp pair of scissors must be used with considerable force to put through them. The natural ear is thin in well-bred dogs and falls over outwards, but seldom lies quite close to the cheeks, often exhibiting tendency to the rose or tulip form, and the two ears seldom matching exactly. It is a great deal on this account, I think, that the practice of cropping is kept up for very few dogs would show neat ears if left entire ; but when they are neat, they surely ought to be prized accordingly by the judges.
The neck should be light, round, and with a greyhound-like turn from the occiput to the setting on of the shoulders, tapering very slightly downwards. The undersurface must be quite tight and concave, approaching the form of the cock's thropple. The shoulders must be sloping, but they are not required to be muscular as in the fox terrier whose digging powers are regarded as of considerable importance.
The chest is deep with an approach to the keel-shape of the greyhound, which is also resembles in its absence of width. The round, barrel-like form of some strains arises from a bull-cross used to abrogate the evils of that attending on the cross of the Italian greyhound. The back ribs are often short, but good judges penalize this tendency.
The loins should be round and slightly arched, the muscle being developed in good specimens under the spine as well as above it. The flank should not be too much cut up.
The legs should be light of bone, set on quite straight, with elbows and hocks well let down and stifles well bent. The forearms are muscular but not excessively so, and the lower thighs are of the same character.
The feet are compact and round, but hare-like, with the toes split well up and at the same time arched. The claws should be short and jet black. The dew-claws are generally removed.
The coat is fine, short and glossy, but not soft.
The colour (including markings) is regarded as more important than any other point by the breeders and fanciers of this terrier, to such an extent as to justify the allotment of 25 out of the 100 in the scale of points. Of course, in any breed intended to be judged for its suitability to work, such an allotment would be absurd, but in a fancy article there can be no argument held on this principle, and we must be content to accept the dicta of those who have command of the market. These gentlemen hold, first, that the black must be jet without admixture with the tan or a single white hair ; secondly, the tan must be a rich mahogany, defined distinctly by a marked and clear line where it meets the black. But these colours encroach on each other in the following way. The black is shown over the whole of the upper surfaces and sides, except a spot of tan over each eye on the brow, and another on each cheek, in both cases being set in a circle of black ; the tan also runs along the sides of the jaw backwards to the lower parts of the cheeks and ends in the throat. examining the tan, we find it occupying all of the lower parts of the body, the undersides of the ears, a spot on each side of the front of the chest, which it thereby shares with the black. The legs are tanned up to the knees and hocks outside and inside all the way up. The feet are entirely tan with the exception of a black line of each toe called "penciling" while just above the foot and below the knee in front of the pastern a black mark called the "thumb-mark" is exhibited. these markings are regarded as of great importance, and, of course, puppies exhibiting them are carefully selected and bred from, but they are seldom shown until the second or third month. The clearer the black the higher the value accorded to them.
The tail is of a tobacco-pipe order, strong at the root and tapering to a fine point like the sting of a bee. It must be curved down, a curl over the back being especially disliked.
Symmetry in a dog regarded only for his beauty is, of course, valued accordingly.
III--Toy Terriers
... The smooth English terrier not exceeding 6 lbs. in weight is much prized ; and when he can be obtained at 3 1/2 or 4 pounds weight, with perfect symmetry and a good rich black-and-tan colour without a white hair, he is certainly a perfect little dog. The black lines ("pencilling") of the toes and the richness of the tan on the cheeks and legs are points insisted on. Most of the toy terriers now sold are either crossed with the Italian greyhound or the King Charles spaniel. If the former, the shape is preserved, and there is the greatest possible difficulty in distinguishing this cross from the pure English terrier ; indeed I am much inclined to believe that all our modern toy-terriers are thus bred. They have the beautiful long sharp nose, the narrow forehead, and the small sharp eye which characterizes the pure breed ; but they are seldom good at vermin though some I have known to be half Italian have been bold enough to attack a good strong rat as well as most dogs. Many of these half-bred Italians are used for rabbit-coursing, in which there is a limit to weight, but it is chiefly for toy purposes that long prices are obtained for them.